Subpoena power may be renewed in Christie's 'Bridgegate'

Jan. 11, 2014
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David Wildstein, right, looks on as his attorney Alan Zegas struggles with a huge binder holding thousands of documents, including emails, during a hearing Jan. 9 at the statehouse in Trenton. Wildstein, a former appointee of Gov. Chris Christie, refused to answer questions from a legislative committee looking into a scandal involving punitive traffic lane closures. / Mel Evans, AP

by Yamiche Alcindor, USA TODAY

by Yamiche Alcindor, USA TODAY

The investigation into the closures of lanes that accessed the George Washington Bridge may recover more information now that subpoena power of the group conducting it will likely be extended.

On Saturday, the incoming New Jersey State Assembly speaker said he will call a special session next week to renew the subpoena power of the panel investigating the traffic jam, according to The Bergen Record.

E-mails and texts indicate several supporters of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, including Bridget Anne Kelly, his now-fired deputy chief of staff, and David Wildstein, a Christie appointee at the Port Authority of New York, schemed to close the lanes to punish Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich. The traffic jam lasted four days and delayed emergency services, schoolchildren and thousands of commuters.

"The documents released this week related to the George Washington Bridge situation clearly show the need for a continued thorough investigation by the New Jersey General Assembly" said Vincent Prieto, the Democratic assemblyman who takes over as speaker on Tuesday, The Record reported. "Many questions remain unanswered about this threat to public safety and abuse of power."

The Assembly's subpoena power expires next week, but Assemblyman John Wisniewski, chairman of the transportation committee, has said that continuing the subpoena power is vital for the investigation to move forward, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Earlier subpoenas led to hundreds of pages of emails, texts and documents being released.

Wisniewski was given subpoena power last year to investigate finances at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and used that power to investigate the lane closures, The Record reported.